A jump in manufacturing output last month coincided with other data suggesting that the economy began 2012 with renewed vigor. Wholesale prices are tame. Demand for Treasury debt should help keep borrowing costs low. Even homebuilders are more optimistic.

Signs “that manufacturing in the US is gaining global market share appears to be growing, and this could be an important dynamic supporting growth in 2012,’’ said John Ryding of RDQ Economics.

Manufacturing rose 0.9 percent from November to December, the Federal Reserve said yesterday. It was the biggest gain since December 2010.

Over the past year, factory output has risen 3.7 percent. Factories benefited in particular in the second half of 2011 from several trends: People bought more cars. Businesses spent more on industrial machinery and computers before a tax incentive expired. And companies restocked their supplies after cutting them last summer.

Many economists say manufacturing output should expand further this year, though some expect the pace to slow mainly because of Europe’s debt crisis.

Dan Meckstroth, chief economist at MAPI, a manufacturing research group, said there’s still plenty of pent-up consumer demand for cars. That demand should keep production of cars and auto parts growing.

And high prices for oil, copper, and other metals should boost growth in mining and drilling. That would lead to greater demand for drill pipes, large trucks used in mining, and other gear.

Another contributor to growth could be construction, which is showing signs of life as builders put up more apartments, office buildings, and factories. That means construction firms need more manufactured goods, such as drywall, steel beams, glass, and copper wires.

Last year’s growth has also fueled more hiring. Factories added 23,000 jobs in December, the most since July. That helped reduce the unemployment rate to 8.5 percent.

Still, Europe’s debt crisis has begun to dampen demand for American exports. That trend, should it continue, could slow manufacturing and threaten growth this year. That hasn’t happened yet. December’s gains suggest the industry “is still resistant to the apparent slowdown in growth elsewhere, particularly in Europe,’’ said Paul Ashworth, chief US economist with Capital Economics.